Alexandre Lacazette says he has entered ‘a new world’ by joining Arsenal and said it is he who needs to adapt to make sure his time in the Premier League is a success.
The French striker scored his first goal at the Emirates Stadium in the 2-1 reverse to Sevilla on Sunday and hailed the start of what many Arsenal fans hope will be the first of many.
But Lacazette accepts he has work to do to make sure he translates the prolific form he showed at Lyon to the English game and says there is ‘no small team’ he can bank on filling his boots against.
‘Everything has changed,’ Lacazette said to the Evening Standard. ‘I felt that I was entering a new world. In terms of the players, the technical staff, the football – everything is different.
‘That is what I was looking for. It is I who needs to adapt as soon as possible.’
He added: ‘Everything is different. It is bigger, goes faster, stronger – it’s good. It’s a great league with lots of teams. In my opinion there is no small team.
‘Even against the smallest one it is not always easy. I can’t wait to see how the season goes.’
Lacazette’s goal against Sevilla was hardly one of his most spectacular as he finished from six yards after receiving Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s deflected cross, but Arsene Wenger says the strike showed a glimpse of why he paid £52million to sign him.
‘That’s him. To score goals is to be in the right place in the box when the cross comes in and he has that quality,’ Wenger said.
The veteran manager also warned that it could be months before Arsenal fans see the very best of their record star.
‘Sometimes it takes a few months, sometimes it takes very little time. The only thing I must say with Lacazette is that week after week he looks to adapt quickly,’ he said. ‘But overall I think it will take him one or two months.’
COMMENTS